Daily Thoughts from Deuteronomy 14:3-8: Abomination (Thoevah)

16. Abomination (Thoevah)

You are not to eat any abomination.  The animals which you may eat are: ox, sheep, goat, deer, gazelle, roebuck, ibex, antelope, oryx and mountain sheep.  Any animal that has a separate hoof that is completely divided and also chews the cud, these animals you may eat.  But you are not to eat those that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof. For example, the camel, the hare and the coney are unclean for you because they chew the cud but don’t have a separate hoof; while the pig is unclean for you because, although it has a separate hoof, it doesn’t chew the cud. You are not to eat meat from these or touch their carcasses.

(D’varim 14:3-8)

“Praise you, Father.  You have delivered Your servant from affliction.”

He couldn’t believe how good he felt compared to yesterday.  His stomach was not nauseous or in pain.  He still felt weak but that was just a consequence of fasting this many days.  But his relief made him feel as if he could work a day’s work today.  He knew that wasn’t really true but he felt that good.

He came eagerly to his scroll of Moshe’s words but soon felt a little disappointed.  He didn’t feel like reading about clean animals he could eat, because clean or not he couldn’t eat any of them.  He couldn’t break his fast.  That was clear.

He had seen ibex out here and he wasn’t contemplating trying to trap or kill one to satisfy his hunger.  But they were right there.  Some of the rocks he saw lying about looked too much like a loaf of bread to keep his stomach from twisting at the thought of food.

He knew the point of Moshe’s words was not about satisfying hunger but how Yisrael was to stand apart from the other nations as uniquely Yahweh’s.  Apparently the gashing of one’s skin and shaving of one’s hair above the forehead was a pagan ritual of the time for mourning.  He wasn’t aware of anyone who did that now but the point was clear.  Yahweh had prescribed ways to mourn, to eat and even to celebrate.  And he and his siblings had grown up observing these prescriptions as a way of demonstrating God’s goodness to Yisrael and His unique relationship to this nation.   They were to be a light to the nations.

In the middle of this reverie he heard a scratching and scuffling outside the cave and in came the squatter.  Great!  Only one day’s reprieve.  It had been too much to hope that satan would give up a chance to torment him while he had him out here all to himself.  As before he squatted facing outside the cave, turning his head all the way around to address Yeshua.

“What did you read from your precious scroll today?”

“Why does that concern you?”

“I am concerned with all things Yahweh has to say.  Are you not willing to share them with me?”

“You have heard the proverb about not casting your pearls before swine, and ‘do not answer a fool according to his folly’ have you not?”

“I do not appreciate the hospitality of your dwelling, being insulted rather than honored.”

“You are not a guest in need of lodging or food, nor did you ask my hospitality but merely showed up and have done nothing but seek to disturb my peace.”

“It seems you retreat to technicalities.  But even if I do not need food and shelter, you do, and I am willing to help supply you with what you need.”

“The cave belongs to my cousin John and is perfectly suitable for my purpose, which is to fast in preparation for the service Yahweh has called me to.  There is nothing for you to add to my needs.”

“I know you are hungry and I can find you suitable food.”

“I will not break my fast until my Father says to.  Hunger is not a suitable reason for breaking my fast.”

No response.  In the quiet he began to notice an urge to leave the shelter of the cave and to travel.  What was this?  In his mind’s eye he saw the Dead Sea’s shore.  Father wanted him to take this pilgrimage, to what and for what he did not know.  He packed his scroll, his bed roll and his fire making tools, but as he began to bottle some water he sensed this was not the Father’s will.  He left without water or knowing for sure why he was doing this.